Running a business from home in Long Beach: the local rules

Each rule below links to the section of the Long Beach Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Long Beach's code says

Long Beach code What Long Beach's code adds
Customer visits	No more than 2 business visitors an hour and 8 visitors a day. Applies: For general home occupations. § 21.51.235 · code text Visitors and deliveries shall be limited to not more than two (2) business visitors an hour and eight (8) visitors a day, and not more than two (2) deliveries of products or materials a week. A MEHKO may serve up to 30 meals a day and up to 90 meals a week. Applies: MEHKOs are not subject to the general home occupation visitor limits; this meal limit comes from California Health and Safety Code §113825. § 21.51.235 · code text a MEHKO is permitted to serve up to 30 meals a day and up to 90 meals a week in a dine-in, delivery or pick-up configuration;
Employees	Only residents may work in the home occupation, and no more than 2 residents may be engaged or employed. Applies: General home occupations. § 21.51.235 · code text No person other than a resident of the dwelling unit shall be engaged or employed in the home occupation, and the number of residents engaged or employed in the home occupation shall not exceed two (2). 1 full-time employee (up to 40 hours a week), or multiple employees working no more than 40 hours per week combined. Applies: For a Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO), excluding family or household members. § 21.51.235 · code text Pursuant to California Health and Safety Code §113825, a MEHKO is limited to one full-time employee (up to 40 hours a week) or multiple employees whose total working hours combined do not exceed 40 hours per week (this does not include a family or household member);
Permit	Home occupation approval Applies: Valid only for the person issued it; void when that person moves from the dwelling unit or discontinues the business. § 21.51.235 · code text The home occupation approval shall be valid only for the person to whom it was issued and shall be void when that person moves from the dwelling unit or discontinues the business.
Businesses not allowed	Home occupations cannot include ambulance services, appliance repair, automobile-related services, beauty salons, lodging, carpentry, or cabinet making. Applies: Partial list; prohibited uses also include food preparation except cottage food operations and MEHKOs, gun sales, medical or dental offices, massage, restaurants, retail sales from the site except direct distribution and internet, veterinary uses, and similar uses. § 21.51.235 · code text The following uses shall be prohibited as home occupations.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Long Beach?

General home occupations: only residents may work, no more than 2, with at most 2 business visitors an hour and 8 a day. State law limits MEHKOs to 30 meals a day and 90 meals a week; Long Beach exempts MEHKOs from general visitor limits.

Running a business from home in Long Beach

Key points

What Long Beach's code says

Who this affects

Frequently asked questions

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